The Startup CPG Podcast · 3 Feb 2026 · 37m · Episode 253
Daniel Scharff and Patricia Menegoto of Startup CPG preview the organization's extensive lineup of events for Expo West 2026 in Anaheim. They detail the Monday Grocery Run with Gelson's 2.0, the Tuesday Kickoff Dinner and Industry Leader Dinners at the Anaheim White House, the transformed Alley Rally with 50 sampling brands, and the exclusive Thursday Founders Dinner at Poppy and Seed. The hosts emphasize tactical advice for attendees, such as bringing cold product, wearing brand swag, and leveraging the curated Startup CPG section for 500+ one-on-one buyer meetings.
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S'well founder Sarah Kauss joins Guy Raz to advise three early-stage founders on positioning and growth. She helps Chiara Moonzi of Chigi navigate grocery placement for a chickpea-based hot cereal, Jesús Rualcaba of Paper Tacos expand his Latino-inspired greeting cards beyond specialty stores, and Adam Barker of Bolt Skin and Shave determine his growth strategy for a razor brand targeting men who shave their legs.
Taylor Foxman, founder of The Industry Collective, explains her unique business model of connecting 80 beverage and cannabis CEOs with investors, media, and partners without traditional marketing or a public-facing persona. She details her background in PR for brands like Jameson and Beyond Meat, and how she leverages this network to help underrepresented founders navigate fundraising and brand visibility. Foxman emphasizes the importance of creating 'good news' through consistent press releases and maintaining levity to support founders through the high-pressure CPG landscape.
Laura Thompson, VP of Trade Shows at PMMI (Packaging and Processing Machinery Association), discusses the upcoming PackExpo 2021 in Las Vegas, highlighting it as the industry's first large-scale in-person event since 2019. She details the safety protocols, including mask mandates and touchless registration, and emphasizes the show's extensive content, featuring over 1,500 exhibitors and 80 sessions. The episode covers specific innovations like the 'Pack to the Future' exhibit and the new 'Pack Match' consultation program designed to help attendees navigate the complex supply chain.
Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat discuss their strategy for attending industry conferences, noting that while they previously exhibited at MacWorld and the New York Gift Fair, they now prioritize networking at events like XOXO and WWDC over direct sales. They reflect on the high costs and time commitments of trade shows, explaining why they stopped exhibiting when the return on investment was merely breaking even. The hosts also explore the value of smaller, skill-based conferences for independent creators, contrasting them with large, generic business events.
Jeni Britton, founder of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams and her new fiber company Flora, advises three early-stage CPG founders on marketing, fundraising, and PR. Jesse Koenig of Jesse and Ben's discusses marketing frozen fries made with tallow and avocado oil, Casey White of Jaju Pierogi weighs the pros and cons of outside capital for scaling to big-box retailers, and Callie Sayher of ube.co seeks advice on hiring a PR firm for her purple sweet potato pet treats.
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